U.S. patent application number 13/847604 was filed with the patent office on 2013-10-31 for structure for mounting cylindrical battery on electric vehicle.
This patent application is currently assigned to HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.. The applicant listed for this patent is HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.. Invention is credited to Shinji KAWATANI, Yoshitaka KOBAYASHI.
Application Number | 20130288097 13/847604 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 49361457 |
Filed Date | 2013-10-31 |
United States Patent
Application |
20130288097 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
KAWATANI; Shinji ; et
al. |
October 31, 2013 |
STRUCTURE FOR MOUNTING CYLINDRICAL BATTERY ON ELECTRIC VEHICLE
Abstract
A cylindrical battery includes a pair of female terminals. One
of the pair of female terminals is placed at the axial center of
the battery, and provided to recede from one end surface of the
battery. The other terminal is placed in a position away from the
axial center, to recede from the one end surface of the battery. A
male thread portion is provided on an outer peripheral surface of
the battery. A handle portion is provided on another end surface of
the battery. A female thread portion to be threadedly engaged with
the male thread portion is provided in an inner peripheral surface
of the battery box. A pair of male terminals are provided on a
bottom surface of the battery box. The battery is designed to be
detachably mounted inside the battery box by being rotated inside
the battery box.
Inventors: |
KAWATANI; Shinji; (Wako-shi,
JP) ; KOBAYASHI; Yoshitaka; (Wako-shi, JP) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.; |
|
|
US |
|
|
Assignee: |
HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
Tokyo
JP
|
Family ID: |
49361457 |
Appl. No.: |
13/847604 |
Filed: |
March 20, 2013 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
429/100 ;
429/164 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B60L 50/66 20190201;
B60L 58/12 20190201; H01M 2/1011 20130101; B60L 53/80 20190201;
B62J 43/16 20200201; B60L 50/51 20190201; B62K 2204/00 20130101;
Y02T 90/14 20130101; H01M 2/0237 20130101; Y02T 10/70 20130101;
B60K 2001/0461 20130101; Y02T 90/12 20130101; H01M 2220/30
20130101; Y02E 60/10 20130101; B60Y 2200/12 20130101; H01M 2/1005
20130101; H01M 2/305 20130101; Y02T 10/7072 20130101; H01M 2/1083
20130101; B60K 1/04 20130101; B60L 2200/12 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
429/100 ;
429/164 |
International
Class: |
H01M 2/10 20060101
H01M002/10; H01M 2/02 20060101 H01M002/02 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Mar 30, 2012 |
JP |
2012-082478 |
Claims
1. A battery for an electric vehicle, said battery comprising: a
pair of female terminals, one female terminal of the pair of female
terminals being in an axial center of the battery, said one female
terminal being recessed from a first end surface of the battery,
and another female terminal of the pair of female terminals being
disposed in a position away from the axial center, and recessed
from the first end surface of the battery; an outer peripheral
surface, said outer peripheral surface including a male thread
portion thereupon, wherein said male thread portion is configured
to engage a female thread portion disposed on an inner peripheral
surface of a battery box; a handle portion disposed on a second end
surface of the battery; wherein the pair of female terminals are
configured to be connected to a corresponding pair of male
terminals disposed on a bottom surface of the battery box, and
wherein the battery is configured to be detachably mounted inside
the battery box by being rotated therein, whereby the male thread
portion of the battery engages the female thread portion of the
battery box.
2. The battery according to claim 1, wherein a first male terminal
is configured to engage one of the female terminals in a biased
state, said battery further comprising a guide groove in the first
end surface of the battery, said guide groove extending in a
circumferential direction around the axial center, and gradually
deepening as the groove approaches the other of the female
terminals, said battery including a step in a region where the
other of the female terminals is connected to the guide groove.
3. A battery box for receiving a cylindrical battery therein, said
battery box comprising: a cylindrical inner surface, said
cylindrical inner surface comprising a female thread portion
thereof, said female thread portion configured to threadedly engage
with a male thread portion of a battery; a pair of male terminals
disposed in a bottom surface of the battery box, said pair of male
terminals configured to engage a pair of female terminals on the
battery, whereby the battery box enables detachable mounting of the
battery therein by rotating the battery so as to engage or
disengage the male and female thread portions.
4. A system for mounting a cylindrical battery in a vehicle, said
system comprising: a battery comprising a pair of female terminals,
wherein a first female terminal of the pair of female terminals is
disposed in an axial center of the battery, and is recessed from a
first end surface of the battery, and a second female terminal of
the pair of female terminals being disposed in a position away from
the axial center of the battery, and recessed from the first end
surface of the battery, said battery including an outer peripheral
surface, with a male thread portion disposed thereupon; a handle
portion disposed on a second end surface of the battery; a battery
box having an inner peripheral surface thereof, said inner
peripheral surface including a female thread portion which is
configured to threadedly engage with the male thread portion of the
battery, said battery box including a pair of male terminals
disposed on a bottom surface thereof, said pair of male terminals
configured to engage and connect with the female terminals of the
battery, wherein the battery is configured to be detachably mounted
inside the battery box by being rotated such that the female thread
portions and male thread portions are selectively engaged or
disengaged.
5. The system according to claim 4, wherein a first male terminal
of the pair of male terminals is configured to engage a
corresponding one of the pair of female terminals, and includes a
tip which is biased to engage the second female terminal, said
battery including a guide groove connected to the second female
terminal so as to extend in a circumferential direction around the
axial center of the battery, and to become deeper as the groove
approaches the second female terminal, and wherein a step is formed
in a region where the second female terminal engages the guide
groove.
6. The system according to 4, wherein the battery box is disposed
in an electric component box of a vehicle, said system further
comprising: a controller configured to control power to be supplied
from the battery to a motor; a down regulator configured to step
down the power of the battery; and a battery management unit
configured to manage charging of the battery, wherein the
controller, the down regulator, and the battery management unit are
disposed in the electric component box, wherein the battery box is
configured to avoid the controller, the down regulator, and the
battery management unit.
7. The system according to claim 6, comprising at least two battery
boxes; and a wire disposed in a space between the at least two
battery boxes, the wire electrically connecting batteries
respectively housed in the at least two battery boxes.
8. The system according to claim 6, wherein the electric component
box includes an openable and closable lid member including a key
cylinder therein; and wherein a projecting portion is configured to
contact the battery and to restrict rotation of the battery, said
projecting portion disposed on an inner surface of the lid member
opposed to the second end surface of the battery.
9. The system according to claim 4, wherein the battery box is
configured to be opened outward in a vehicle width direction.
Description
BACKGROUND
[0001] 1. Field;
[0002] The present invention relates to a structure for mounting a
cylindrical battery on an electric vehicle.
[0003] 2. Description of the Related Art
[0004] A saddle riding type electric vehicle in which a cylindrical
battery is detachably mounted is disclosed in Patent Document 1,
Japanese Patent Application Publication NO. Hei 04-143123 (refer to
FIG. 5 to FIG. 9 in the document in particular).
[0005] In the conventional cylindrical battery, electrodes (feed
terminals) are provided on one end surface and an outer peripheral
surface, and a threaded lid member is attached after the battery is
mounted on a vehicle body. However, this configuration requires
attention to avoid contact of the electrodes with other regions
during an operation to attach or detach the battery. In addition,
since the lid member is attached after the battery is mounted, the
operation to attach or detach the battery is troublesome.
[0006] The above-described cylindrical battery has a shape that
makes the battery difficult to mount compactly on the vehicle.
Nevertheless, the battery is expected to be mounted on the vehicle
as compactly as possible.
SUMMARY
[0007] Embodiments of the present invention have been made in view
of the above-mentioned circumstances, and an object thereof is to
provide a structure for mounting a cylindrical battery on an
electric vehicle, which facilitates an operation to attach or
detach a cylindrical battery to or from an electric vehicle.
[0008] As means for solving the foregoing problems, an embodiment
of the invention provides a structure for mounting a cylindrical
battery on an electric vehicle configured to detachably mount a
cylindrical battery in a cylindrical battery box provided in the
vehicle. The battery includes a pair of female terminals, one of
the pair of female terminals can be placed in an axial center of
the battery and can be provided in such a manner as to recede from
one end surface of the battery. The other terminal can be placed in
a position away from the axial center and provided in such a manner
as to recede from the one end surface of the battery. A male thread
portion is provided on an outer peripheral surface of the battery.
A handle portion is provided on the other end surface of the
battery. A female thread portion to be threadedly engaged with the
male thread portion is provided in an inner peripheral surface of
the battery box. A pair of male terminals to be connected to the
female terminals are provided on a bottom surface of the battery
box. The battery is detachably mounted inside the battery box by
being rotated inside the battery box.
[0009] In another embodiment, one male terminal of the pair of male
terminals to be connected to the other one of the pair of female
terminals has a tip configured to be capable of being pushed into
the female terminal in a biased state. A guide groove is formed in
the one end surface of the battery. The guide groove can be
connected to the other one of the pair of female terminals,
extending in a circumferential direction around the axial center of
the battery, and gradually increasing a depth as the groove
approaches the other one of the pair of female terminals. A step is
formed in a region where the other one of the pair of female
terminals is connected to the guide groove.
[0010] In another embodiment, at least the one battery box is
formed in an electric component box provided in the vehicle. A
controller is provided, and is configured to control power to be
supplied from the battery to a motor. A down regulator is provided,
and configured to step down the power of the battery. A battery
management unit is configured to manage the charging of the
battery. The controller, down regulator, and battery management
unit are provided in the electric component box. The battery box is
formed in such a manner as to avoid the controller, the down
regulator, and the battery management unit.
[0011] In another embodiment, at least two battery boxes are
formed. A wire for electrically connecting the batteries to be
respectively housed in the battery boxes is provided in a space
between the adjacent battery boxes among at least the two battery
boxes.
[0012] In another embodiment, the electric component box is
provided with an openable and closable lid member having a key
cylinder. A projecting portion configured to come into contact with
the battery and to restrict the rotation of the battery is provided
on an inner surface of the lid member opposed to the other end
surface of the battery.
[0013] In another embodiment, the battery box is opened outward in
a vehicle width direction.
[0014] According to certain embodiments, a user can attach or
detach the battery to and from the inside of the battery box by
rotating the battery while gripping the handle portion provided on
the other end surface which is located on the opposite side of the
battery from the one end surface. The female terminals recede from
the one end surface of the battery, and are therefore less likely
to interfere with the other components and the like in an attaching
or detaching operation. Moreover, it is not necessary to provide a
lid member, for example, for preventing the battery from coming
off. Hence, the operation to attach or detach the battery can be
performed easily.
[0015] In certain embodiments, the tip of the male terminal of the
battery box, which is to be connected to the female terminal
located away from the axial center of the battery, can be smoothly
connected to the female terminal in such a way that the tip
retracted with the one end surface of the battery is guided to the
female terminal along the guide groove of the battery, and is
expanded after reaching the female terminal. In addition, the
battery can be maintained in an electrically connected state by
locating the male terminal of the battery box adjacent to the
step.
[0016] According to certain embodiments, the various electric
components and the battery are efficiently mounted in the electric
component box, and the electric component box can be made compact.
In addition, more components can be provided by effective use of a
space between two battery boxes, and the components can be provided
efficiently in the electric component box. To be more precise, it
is possible to arrange the wire in the space between the two
battery boxes.
[0017] According to certain embodiments, the battery can be
positioned and also be protected against theft by means of the lid
member.
[0018] In certain embodiments, the operation to attach or detach
the battery can be performed more easily than in the case of
housing the battery in a vertical direction and the like.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0019] FIG. 1 is a right side view of a saddle riding type electric
vehicle adopting a structure according to embodiments of the
present invention.
[0020] FIG. 2 is a right side view of the saddle riding type
electric vehicle in a state where a lid member for an electric
component box of the saddle riding type electric vehicle is
detached.
[0021] FIG. 3 is a view showing a battery to be mounted on the
saddle riding type electric vehicle, in which: part (A) is a
perspective view of the battery; part (B) is a view showing an end
surface of the battery; part (C) is a cross-sectional view of the
battery taken along the a-a line in part (B); and part (D) is a
cross-sectional view of a guide groove to be formed in the end
surface of the battery, which is taken along a longitudinal
direction of the guide groove.
[0022] FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of a battery box and the
lid member of the saddle riding type electric vehicle, which is
taken along an axial line of the battery box.
[0023] FIG. 5 includes: part (A) which is a cross-sectional view
taken along the b-b line in FIG. 1; part (B) which is a
cross-sectional view taken along the c-c line in FIG. 1; and part
(C) which is a cross-sectional view taken along the d-d line in
FIG. 1.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0024] An embodiment of the present invention will be described
below with reference to the drawings. In the drawings used
hereinbelow, it is to be noted that: an arrow FR indicates a front
side of a vehicle; and an arrow UP indicates an upper side of the
vehicle. As shown in FIG. 1, a saddle riding type electric vehicle
1 adopting a structure according to this embodiment includes a
vehicle body frame 2 formed of multiple frames.
[0025] The vehicle body frame 2 can include one main frame 4
extending rearward, or more specifically, rearward and downward
from a head pipe 3. A left and right pair of pivot frames 5 extend
downward from a rear end of the main frame 4. A down frame 6
extends downward from a front end of the main frame 4. A bottom
frame 7 extends rearward from a lower end of the down frame 6 and
has a rear end connected to the pivot frames 5. A left and right
pair of seat frames 8 extend rearward and upward from a rear part
of the main frame 4. A left and right pair of support frames 9 each
extend rearward and upward from a rear end of the main frame 4 and
connected to a region located substantially in the center in a
front-rear direction of each seat frame 8.
[0026] The down frame 6 and the bottom frame 7 are integrated with
each other, and formed into an L-shape in a lateral view. In
addition, a seat support frame 10 having a horizontal region
extending in the front-rear direction in a horizontal direction is
fixed to upper parts of the seat frames 8. A seat 11 for a driver
to be seated on is supported by the horizontal region of this seat
support frame 10.
[0027] A steering shaft 12 is turnably supported by the head pipe
3. Upper and lower end portions of the steering shaft 12 protrude
outward from the head pipe 3. A bridge member 13 extending in a
vehicle width direction is fixed to a lower end of the steering
shaft 12, and upper ends of front forks 14 are respectively fixed
to both end portions of the bridge member 13. In addition, a front
wheel WF is rotatably supported by lower ends of the front forks
14. A handlebar 15 formed of a single pipe material is fixed to an
upper end of the steering shaft 12. Note that L1 in the drawing
indicates an axial line of the steering shaft 12.
[0028] A front portion of a swing arm 16 is swingably supported by
the pivot frames 5 via a pivot shaft 17. The swing arm 16 is of a
cantilever type which is configured to pivotally support a rear
wheel WR only with an arm on the left side in the vehicle width
direction. An electric motor M which drives the rear wheel WR is
housed in a rear portion of the swing arm 16. In addition, a rear
cushion unit 18 is provided between the seat frame 8 and the front
portion of the swing arm 16.
[0029] In addition to the electric motor M, a centrifugal clutch as
a connection-disconnection mechanism for rotation drive force and a
deceleration mechanism (neither of which is shown) are
concentratedly arranged inside the swing arm 16. In other words,
the swing arm 16, the electric motor M, and the like collectively
constitute a swing unit which is a power train of the saddle riding
type electric vehicle 1.
[0030] An electric component box 20 configured to house various
electric components is provided in a space formed from the main
frame 4, the down frame 6, the bottom frame 7, and the pivot frames
5. This electric component box 20 is formed substantially in a
triangular shape in a lateral view.
[0031] In the electric component box 20, one side of the three
sides that form the substantially triangular shape in the lateral
view is aligned with the vertical direction and fixed to the down
frame 6, while a side extending rearward from a lower end of the
side fixed to the down frame 6 is aligned with the front-rear
direction and fixed to the bottom frame 7. In the meantime, the
side of the electric component box 20 which is not fixed to any of
the down frame 6 and the bottom frame 7 extends along a lower
surface of the main frame 4 in the proximity of this lower
surface.
[0032] Here, reference numeral 22 in the drawing denotes multiple
brackets fixed to the down frame 6 and the bottom frame 7, which
are configured to anchor the electric component box 20 by means of
fastening and the like.
[0033] The electric component box 20 is openably covered with a lid
member 21 from an outer side (right side) in a vehicle width
direction. The lid member 21 is formed substantially in a
triangular shape in a lateral view. The lid member 21 is provided
with a key cylinder 23 with a keyhole exposed to the outer side.
The key cylinder 23 locks the lid member 21 with the electric
component box 20 by an operation of a key inserted in the keyhole,
and releases the locked state by an operation of the key. In this
embodiment, although the key cylinder 23 is provided on an upper
corner of the lid member 21 with the lid member attached to the
electric component box 20, the key cylinder 23 may be provided in
any other positions. Nevertheless, operations become easier by
providing the key cylinder 23 in as high a location as
possible.
[0034] FIG. 2 shows a state where the lid member 21 is detached.
Three cylindrical battery boxes 25 each configured to house a
cylindrical battery 24 in its inside are formed in the electric
component box 20. Each battery box 25 is arranged with its axial
line extended in the vehicle width direction and is opened outward
(to the right side) in the vehicle width direction. In addition, a
power supply unit 30, which integrates a controller (PDU; power
drive unit) 26 configured to control output from the batteries 24
to the electric motor M, a down regulator 27 configured to step
down the power from the batteries 24, and a battery management unit
28 configured to manage a charge status of the batteries 24
together, is provided in the electric component box 20.
[0035] The controller 26 can include an inverter circuit configured
to transform a direct-current voltage supplied from the batteries
24 into a three-phase alternating-current voltage and to supply the
transformed voltage to the electric motor M. A control unit is
configured to execute prescribed control on the basis of an output
signal from the battery management unit 28, and the like. The down
regulator 27 is configured to step down the direct-current voltage
supplied from the batteries 24, and to output the stepped-down
voltage to an auxiliary battery and the like, which are not
illustrated. The battery management unit 28 is configured to
recognize the charge status of the batteries 24, and to output
information on the charge status to the controller 26.
[0036] The power supply unit 30 is formed in a rectangular shape in
a lateral view, and is provided below a region in the electric
component box 20 along the main frame 4 and in such a manner as to
align its longitudinal direction therewith. A front end of the unit
30 is located substantially in a central region in the front-rear
direction of the electric component box 20.
[0037] The three battery boxes 25 are formed to avoid the power
supply unit 30, i.e., arranged in an L-shape across a region in the
electric component box 20 along the down frame 6 and a region in
the electric component box 20 along the bottom frame 7. Here, the
power supply unit 30 is located to be surrounded by the multiple
battery boxes 25 from the front and lower sides.
[0038] FIG. 3 shows the battery 24. The battery 24 is formed in a
cylindrical shape to be inserted into the inside of the cylindrical
battery box 25. The battery 24 houses a lithium ion battery and the
like in a cylindrical case. In the drawings, C1 denotes an axial
line of the battery 24.
[0039] As shown in FIGS. 3(A) to 3(C), a female positive electrode
terminal 32 and a female negative electrode terminal 33 are
provided in one end surface of the battery in the direction of the
axial line C1. In this embodiment, the female positive electrode
terminal 32 is placed on the axial center (on the axial line C1) of
the battery 24 and is provided to recede from the one end surface
of the battery 24. The female negative electrode terminal 33 is
placed in a position on the one end surface of the battery 24 which
is outwardly away from the axial center in the radial direction,
and in such a manner as to recede from the one end surface.
[0040] In addition, a U-shaped handle portion 34 that can be
gripped by a user is provided on the other end surface of the
battery 24 in the direction of the axial line C1. A male thread
portion 35 is provided on an outer peripheral surface between the
center in the direction of the axial line C1 and the other end
surface of the battery 24. The handle portion 34 is formed in the
U-shape from: a pair of opposed portions erected on the other end
surface of the battery 24 and opposed to each other across the
axial line C1; and a joint portion joining tips of the opposed
portions to each other. Each of the opposed portions and the joint
portion is formed in a U-shaped cross section which is opened
outward.
[0041] FIG. 4 shows a cross-sectional view of the battery box 25
and the like taken along an axial direction in the case where the
battery 24 is mounted in the battery box 25. Note that the battery
24 is shown, but not in the cross section for the convenience of
description. The battery 24 is mounted inside the battery box 25 by
being inserted and rotated inside the battery box 25. While the
battery 24 is in the mounted state, with a rotating operation of
the battery 24, the male thread portion 35 is threadedly engaged
with a female thread portion 36 provided on an inner peripheral
surface of the battery box 25, and the battery 24 and the saddle
riding type electric vehicle 1 are put into an electrically
communicating state.
[0042] A bottom surface of the battery box 25 can be provided with
a male positive electrode terminal 40 to be connected to the female
positive electrode terminal 32. A male negative electrode terminal
41 can be connected to the female negative electrode terminal 33.
Both of the male positive electrode terminal 40 and the male
negative electrode terminal 41 protrude from the bottom surface of
the battery box 24, and are inserted into the female positive
electrode terminal 32 and the female negative electrode terminal
33, respectively. Thus, the battery 24 and the saddle riding type
electric vehicle 1 are put into the electrically communicating
state. Here, the bottom surface of the battery box 25 is the end
surface of the battery box 25 in the axial direction, which is
located on the opposite side of the battery box 25 from the opened
side.
[0043] The male negative electrode terminal 41 can protrude from
the bottom surface of the battery box 25 in a position located away
from the axial center thereof, and is configured to have a tip
portion 41A capable of pushing into the female negative electrode
terminal 33 in a state biased to the female negative electrode
terminal 33. In FIG. 4, reference numeral 41B denotes a spring
which biases the tip portion 41A. The spring 41B is housed in a
hole portion 41C formed in the bottom surface of the battery box
25.
[0044] On the other hand, as shown in FIGS. 3(B) and 3(D), a guide
groove 37 is formed on the one end surface of the battery 24 in the
direction of the axial line C1. The guide groove 37 is connected to
the female negative electrode terminal 33, extends in a
circumferential direction which is a direction of revolution of the
battery 24 around the axial line C1, and gradually increases its
depth as the groove approaches the female negative electrode
terminal 33. Moreover, a depth of the female negative electrode
terminal 33 is set greater than a depth of an end portion of the
guide groove 37 connected thereto. Thus, a step D is formed between
the female negative electrode terminal 33 and a region of the guide
groove 37 connected to the female negative electrode terminal 33.
Meanwhile, an end portion out of the end portions of the guide
groove 37 in the longitudinal direction, which is on the opposite
side of the guide groove 37 from the end portion connected to the
female negative electrode terminal 33, is smoothly connected to the
one end surface of the battery 24 without a step.
[0045] Thus, with reference to FIG. 3(C), when the battery 24 is
inserted and rotated inside the battery box 25, the tip 41A of the
male negative electrode terminal 41 is designed to be smoothly
connectable to the female negative electrode terminal 33 in such a
way that the tip 41A retracted by way of the one end surface of the
battery 24 is guided to the female negative electrode terminal 33
along the guide groove 37 of the battery 24, and is expanded after
reaching the female negative electrode terminal 33. In addition,
the battery 24 can be maintained in the electrically connected
state by locating the male negative electrode terminal 41 adjacent
to the step D between the guide groove 37 and the female negative
electrode terminal 33.
[0046] Moreover, in this embodiment, the three batteries in the
electric component box 20 are electrically connected to one another
by two wires 43 as shown in FIG. 2. Here, one of the two wires 43
is provided in a space between the battery boxes 25 adjacent in the
vertical direction behind the down frame 6, and is configured to
electrically connect the batteries 24 to be housed therein, which
are adjacent in the vertical direction. The other one of the two
wires 43 is provided in a space between the battery boxes 25
adjacent in the front-rear direction above the bottom frame 7, and
is configured to electrically connect the batteries 24 to be housed
therein, which are adjacent in the front-rear direction.
[0047] In addition, the power is supplied from the battery 24 among
the three batteries 24, which is located immediately below the
power supply unit 30, to the power supply unit 30. These are
connected together by a supply cable 44, and a fuse 45 is provided
in the middle of the supply cable 44. Reference numeral 46 denotes
a grounding cable.
[0048] A three-phase cable 47 for supplying the three-phase
alternating current transformed by the controller 26 to the
electric motor M is connected to a rear part of the power supply
unit 30. The three-phase cable 47 is drawn rearward, passed through
the swing arm 16, and connected to the electric motor M.
[0049] As shown in FIG. 4, a projecting portion 50a that comes into
contact with the other end surface of the battery 24 (the handle
portion 34 of the battery 24 in this embodiment) is provided on an
inner surface of the lid member 21 which is opposed to the other
end surface of the battery 24 provided with the handle portion 34.
This projecting portion 50a restricts the rotation of the battery
24, and thereby prevents the battery 24 from coming off. Note that
FIG. 4 shows the one of the batteries 24 which is located in the
highest place.
[0050] With reference to FIG. 5(A), the projecting portion 50a is
configured to be inserted along the axial line C1 of the battery 24
into the U-shaped open part on the joint portion of the handle
portion 34, which is opened toward the projecting portion 50a,
thereby to restrict the rotation of the battery 24. To be more
precise, the projecting portion 50a extends relatively long along
the joint portion of the handle portion 34, and is configured to
restrict the rotation of the battery 24, which is about to rotate,
by coming into contact with a wall of the U-shaped open part on the
joint portion of the handle portion 34.
[0051] The projecting portions 50a of the same type as described
above are usually formed on the lid members 21 corresponding to the
multiple batteries 24, respectively. Nevertheless, in this
embodiment, a projecting portion 50b and a projecting portion 50c
having different shapes from the shape of the projecting portion
50a are formed on the respective lid members 21 for the convenience
of explanation. The projecting portion 50b is formed below the
projecting portion 50a, and the projecting portion 50c is formed in
the rear of the projecting portion 50b. Moreover, the projecting
portion 50b is shown in FIG. 5(B) which is a cross section taken
along the c-c line in FIG. 1, and the projecting portion 50c is
shown in FIG. 5(C) which is a cross section taken along the d-d
line in FIG. 1.
[0052] As shown in FIG. 5(B), the projecting portion 50b is
configured to be inserted into a through-hole 34a formed in a
position on the joint portion of the U-shaped handle portion 34
which is located outwardly away from the axial line C1 of the
battery 24 in the radial direction, and to thereby restrict the
rotation of the battery 24.
[0053] As shown in FIG. 5(C), the projecting portion 50c is
configured to sandwich the handle portion 34 from two sides with
the axial line C1 of the battery 24 in between and to restrict the
rotation of the battery 24 by coming into contact with the handle
portion 34 if the battery 24 is about to rotate. Here, the
projecting portion 50c is configured to sandwich the handle portion
34 from two sides across the axial line C1. However, the projecting
portion 50c may be formed only on one side of the handle portion 34
on the basis of the axial line C1. Nevertheless, in this case, the
projecting portion 50c needs to be formed long along the joint
portion of the handle portion 34 across the axial line C1.
[0054] Operations to attach and detach the batteries 24 to and from
the saddle riding type electric vehicle 1 according to this
embodiment will be described below. In order to mount each battery
24, the user first grips the handle portion 34, inserts the battery
24 into the inside of the battery box 25, and then rotates the
battery 24 to threadedly engage the male thread portion 35 with the
female thread portion 36. Then, the male positive electrode
terminal 40 is connected to the female positive electrode terminal
32, and the male negative electrode terminal 41 is connected to the
female negative electrode terminal 33.
[0055] Since the guide groove 37 is provided in this case, the tip
portion 41A of the male negative electrode terminal 41 can be
smoothly connected to the female negative electrode terminal 33,
and the battery 24 can be maintained in the electrically connected
state as described previously. Then, the electric component box 20
is closed with the lid member 21, and the projecting portions 50a
to 50c are brought into contact with the batteries 24 (the handle
portions 34).
[0056] On the other hand, in order to detach each battery 24, the
user first opens the lid member 21, then grips the handle portion
34, and detaches the battery 24 while performing a rotating
operation in such a direction to pull out the battery 24.
[0057] As described above, the saddle riding type electric vehicle
1 of this embodiment has a configuration in which the battery 24
includes the pair of the female positive electrode terminal 32 and
the female negative electrode terminal 33. One of the pair of the
female positive electrode terminal 32 and the female negative
electrode terminal 33 is placed at the axial center of the battery
24, and provided to recede from the one end surface of the battery
24. The other terminal is placed in the position away from the
axial center, and provided to recede from the one end surface of
the battery 24. The male thread portion 35 is provided on the outer
peripheral surface of the battery 24; the handle portion 34 is
provided on the other end surface of the battery 24; the female
thread portion 36 to be threadedly engaged with the male thread
portion 35 is provided on the inner peripheral surface of the
battery box 25; the bottom surface of the battery box 25 is
provided with the pair of the male positive electrode terminal 40
and the male negative electrode terminal 41 to be connected to the
pair of the female positive electrode terminal 32 and the female
negative electrode terminal 33; and the battery 24 is detachably
mounted inside the battery box 25 by being rotated inside the
battery box 25.
[0058] This configuration enables the user to attach or detach the
battery 24 to or from the inside of the battery box 25 by rotating
the battery 24 while gripping the handle portion 34 provided on the
other end surface which is on the opposite side of the battery 24
from the one end surface. Since the female positive electrode
terminal 32 and the female negative electrode terminal 33 recede
from the one end surface of the battery 24, the terminals are less
likely to interference with the other components and the like in
the attaching or detaching operation. Moreover, since it is not
necessary to provide a lid member for preventing the battery 24
from coming off, the operation to attach or detach the battery 24
can be performed easily.
[0059] The bottom surface of the battery box 25 is provided with
the male positive electrode terminal 40 and the male negative
electrode terminal 41 to be connected to the female positive
electrode terminal 32 and the female negative electrode terminal
33. The male negative electrode terminal 41 to be connected to the
female negative electrode terminal 33 is configured to have the tip
portion capable of pushing into the female negative electrode
terminal 33 in the state biased to the female negative electrode
33. The guide groove 37 is formed on the one end surface of the
battery 24. The guide groove 37 is connected to the female negative
electrode terminal 33, extends in the circumferential direction of
the battery 24, and gradually increases the depth as the groove
approaches the female negative electrode terminal 33. The step D is
formed in the region where the female negative electrode terminal
33 is connected to the guide groove 37.
[0060] This makes it possible to smoothly connect the tip 41A of
the male negative electrode terminal 41, which is to be connected
to the female negative electrode terminal 33 located away from the
axial center of the battery 24, to the female negative electrode
terminal 33 in such a way that the tip 41A retracted with the one
end surface of the battery 24 is guided to the female negative
electrode terminal 33 along the guide groove 37, and is expanded
after reaching the female negative electrode terminal 33. In
addition, the battery 24 can be maintained in the electrically
connected state by locating the male negative electrode terminal 41
adjacent to the step between the guide groove 37 and the female
negative electrode terminal 33.
[0061] In addition, the three battery boxes 25 are formed in the
electric component box 20 provided in the vehicle. The controller
26 configured to control the power to be supplied from the
batteries 24 to the motor, the down regulator 27 configured to step
down the power of the batteries 24, and the battery management unit
28 configured to manage the charging of the batteries 24 are
provided in the electric component box 20. The battery boxes 25 are
formed to avoid the controller 26, the down regulator 27, and the
battery management unit 28.
[0062] This enables the various electric components and the
batteries 24 to be efficiently mounted in the electric component
box 20, and the electric component box 20 to be made compact. In
addition, more components can be provided by effective use of a
space between two battery boxes 25, and the components can be
arranged efficiently in the electric component box. To be more
precise, it is possible to provide the wire 43 in the space between
the two battery boxes 25, for example.
[0063] In addition, the electric component box 20 is provided with
the openable and closable lid member 21 having the key cylinder 23,
and the projecting portions 50a to 50c configured to come into
contact with the other end surfaces of the batteries 24 and thereby
to restrict the rotation of the batteries 24 are provided on the
inner surface of the lid member 21 which is opposed to the other
end surfaces of the batteries 24. Thus, the batteries 24 can be
positioned by the lid member 21, and protection against theft is
also achieved.
[0064] Moreover, the battery boxes 25 are opened outward in the
vehicle width direction. This makes it possible to perform the
operation to attach or detach the batteries 24 more easily than in
the case of housing the batteries 24 in a vertical direction and
the like.
[0065] Although embodiments of the present invention has been
described above, the present invention is not limited only to the
above-described embodiments, and various modifications can be added
within the scope departing from the gist of the present invention.
For example, the number of batteries 24 and the number of battery
boxes 25 may be set to 1, 2, 4 or more.
EXPLANATION OF THE REFERENCE NUMERALS
[0066] 1 SADDLE RIDING TYPE ELECTRIC VEHICLE [0067] 23 KEY CYLINDER
(LOCKING MEANS) [0068] 24 BATTERY [0069] 25 BATTERY BOX [0070] 26
CONTROLLER [0071] 27 DOWN REGULATOR [0072] 28 BATTERY MANAGEMENT
UNIT [0073] 32 FEMALE POSITIVE ELECTRODE TERMINAL (FEMALE TERMINAL)
[0074] 33 FEMALE NEGATIVE ELECTRODE TERMINAL (FEMALE TERMINAL)
[0075] 34 HANDLE PORTION [0076] 35 MALE THREAD PORTION [0077] 36
FEMALE THREAD PORTION [0078] 37 GUIDE GROOVE [0079] 40 MALE
POSITIVE ELECTRODE TERMINAL (MALE TERMINAL) [0080] 41 MALE NEGATIVE
ELECTRODE TERMINAL (MALE TERMINAL) [0081] 43 WIRE [0082] 50a, 50b,
50c PROJECTING PORTION
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